Hey Bruins! Our December newsletter is available. We have more great events for you all to enjoy. Happy hours, Speaker & Career Panels, and many volunteer opportunities.

1. UCLA ALUMNI
LOS ANGELES WESTSIDE NETWORK
DECEMBER 2013 NEWSLETTER

2. INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Westside Bruin Scholarship Fund
3
Young Alumni Ugly Sweater Happy Hour
4
An Evening with Super Bowl Champion
Brendon Ayanbadjeo
4
Writing & Storytelling Panel
6
Fundraising Inaugural Meeting Recap
9
R2K at Alta Loma Elementary Recap
10
Happy Hour at Bodega Wine Bar Recap
UCLA vs. Missouri Basketball Viewing Party
Recap
11
Volunteer & Donate
12
Calendar of Events
13
DECEMBER 2013 VOL, 1 ISSUE 5
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3. Westside Bruin
Scholarship Fund
The Westside Network is very proud to
announce our campaign to raise funds
for the Westside Bruin Club Scholarship Fund (http://giving.ucla.edu/WestsideNetwork). That’s right! We have
our very own scholarship, and each
year we award one incoming freshman
$1,000 towards tuition at UCLA.
Our ability to offer this scholarship is
entirely dependent on the generosity of
those that give to our scholarship fund.
Unfortunately our fund is very low, and
our ability to continue to fund scholarships is in jeopardy. So this year we are
taking a more active role in fundraising.
In addition to establishing a Fundraising Committee we are also working
closely with the UCLA Office of Scholarship to bring our scholarship fund to
the endowment level.
What is endowment level? Endowment level is $100,000. What do we
have now? The last time we received
our scholarship account balance it was
$3,166.86.
We need your help. And this is a great
time to make a year-end tax-deductible
donation. We’re sure you’ve already
considered doing so. We’re just asking
you to make that contribution to our
scholarship fund. Everything counts.
And it’s easy! Just go to http://giving.
ucla.edu/WestsideNetwork and give
whatever you can today.
DECEMBER 2013 VOL, 1 ISSUE 5
This year the Westside Network
scholarship was awarded to Alan
Grusky
Obviously we have a big goal,
and we can’t reach it without you.
Please donate. Once you’ve donated share this link (http://giving.ucla.
edu/WestsideNetwork) with your
friends and family and ask them to
donate too.
We want to continue to award this
scholarship. So please help. Anything you can do is greatly
appreciated.
Thank you in advance for your
support.
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4. Young Alumni
Ugly Sweater
Happy Hour
Thursday, Dec. 19th | 4:00 - 9:00 PM
When you get off work grab the
ugliest holiday sweater you have
in the closet and join your fellow
Westside Young Alumni at
Brick + Mortar for a happy hour
and watch party for the UCLA
vs. Duke game at Madison
Square Garden in New York.
The game starts 4:30pm so stop
by whenever you can make it!
We will also hold a raffle for two
tickets to an upcoming UCLA
Basketball game.
“Eleven national championships, the
best coach to coach the game says a
lot. I take offense to those who act like
UCLA is just another school compared
to Duke. Duke is a great school in the
east, but UCLA is worldwide.”
-Earl Watson
Register today on BruinWorks:
http://tinyurl.com/kvlxtlq
Brick + Mortar | 2435 Main Street
Santa Monica, CA 90405
DECEMBER 2013 VOL, 1 ISSUE 5
An Evening with
Super Bowl Champion
Brendon Ayanbadejo
Thursday, Jan. 23rd | 6:30 - 9:00 PM
Join the Westside Network, fellow
alumni and friends as we listen to
the extraordinary experiences of
a True Bruin who epitomizes the
UCLA optimist spirit – Brendon
Ayanbadejo (http://www.brendonayanbadejo.net ). In addition
to his amazing football career,
Brendon has also been an outspoken advocate for marriage equality and authored the AMICUS brief
written in support of the repeal of
Proposition 8 in California.
Currently he works as a writer for
http://msn.foxsports.com, a host
for FOX Football Daily, and is the
owner of Orangetheory Fitness
studios in L.A. and the Bay Area.
This event is the first in the Westside Network’s Distinguished
Alumni Speaker series launching
next year, and we fully anticipate
that it will sell-out as there will
be significant marketing for this
event from the Alumni Association and other UCLA groups next
month.
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5. As a member of the Westside
Network we wanted to make sure you
had the first opportunity to register
before it sells out.
Register today on BruinWorks:
http://tinyurl.com/ll9u7xc
Contact : Brandie Barrera
brandiebarrera@alumni.ucla.edu
Special thank you to our event
sponsors:
Olympic Collection Banquet
& Conference Center
http://www.ocbanquet.com/
MarieSam Sanchez Photography
http://www.mariesamsanchez.com/
Orangetheory Fitness
http://www.orangetheoryfitness.com/
Thank you to our event sponsors
DECEMBER 2013 VOL, 1 ISSUE 5
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6. WRITING & STORYTELLING PANEL
Wednesday, Feb. 19th | 6:00 - 9:00PM
We all have a story to tell. We can all relate a humorous anecdote among
friends, reveal a deeply intimate struggle, or offer an uplifting tale about triumph over tragedy. But, how do we write these stories for other people?
How do we make them care about our stories, our voice, and our message?
Register for the Los Angeles Westside Network’s Writing & Storytelling Panel
and learn methodologies from a diverse panel of writing professionals who
will share their experiences and knowledge gained while forging their careers.
Corey Mandell
Screenwriter
Panelist
DECEMBER 2013 VOL, 1 ISSUE 5
Corey Mandell is an award-winning
playwright and screenwriter who has written
projects for Ridley Scott, Wolfgang Petersen,
Harrison Ford, John Travolta, Julia Roberts,
Warner Brothers, Universal, 20th Century
Fox, Fox 2000, Fox Family, Working Title,
Paramount, Live Planet, Beacon Films,
Touchstone, Trilogy, Radiant, Kopelson
Entertainment, and Walt Disney Pictures.
Corey is also a distinguished instructor at
UCLA, where he earned his MFA.
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7. Jennifer Chow
Writer, Novelist
Jennifer J. Chow holds a Bachelor’s degree
from Cornell University and a Master’s in Social
Welfare from UCLA. She has taken multiple courses through the UCLA Writers’ Program. Her short
fiction has appeared in Foliate Oak Literary Magazine, IdeaGems Magazine, and Mouse Tales Press.
Her Taiwanese-American novel, The 228
Legacy, made it to the second round of the 2013
Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest and
was published by Martin Sisters Publishing in July
2013.
Panelist
Linda Venis
Director, UCLA Extension Department
of the Arts and Writers’ Program
Linda Venis is the editor of two new screenwriting books, Cut to the Chase: Writing Feature
Films with the Pros at UCLA Extension Writers’
Program, and Inside the Writing Room: Writing TV
with the Pros at UCLA Extension Writers’ Program
published by Gotham Books/Penguin (USA).
She is the Director of UCLA Extension
Department of the Arts and Writers’ Program,
and was a lecturer in the UCLA English Department and recipient of the prestigious UCLA Distinguished Teaching Award. Venis earned three
degrees at UCLA: a B.A and M.A in English and a
Ph.D. in British Romantic Literature.
Panelist
DECEMBER 2013 VOL, 1 ISSUE 5
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8. Nancy Nigrosh
Writing Instructor, Consulting Editor
Panelist
Nancy Nigrosh is a former talent and literary agent at Innovative Artists and The Gersh
Agency. She represented a number of writers
and directors, including Kathryn Bigelow (The
Hurt Locker, Zero Dark Thirty), Stuart Beattie
(Collateral, Pirates of The Caribbean), Amanda
Brown (Legally Blonde), Leslye Headland (Bachelorette), and Randy Brown (Trouble With The
Curve), among many others.
She now works as consulting editor for
authors and screenwriters. She earned her M.A
in Education from Antioch University and her
M.F.A. in Screenwriting from UCLA’s School
of Film, Theatre and Television. She teaches a
class for screenwriters at The Writer’s Program
at UCLA Extension and serves as a judge for
UCLA’s Master Screenwriting Competition.
Bruce Beiderwell
Director of UCLA Writing Programs
Moderator
DECEMBER 2013 VOL, 1 ISSUE 5
Bruce Beiderwell has served as director of
the UCLA Writing Programs since 2001. He regularly teaches developmental writing classes that
serve students who arrive at the university without
the preparation or skills they will need to succeed.
And he has developed a well-attended summer
workshop for high school students. Bruce has also
taught a wide range of literature courses for UCLA
Extension. For that work, he received a teaching
award in 1997.
His book, Power and Punishment in Scott’s
Novels, was nominated for a McVitie’s Prize. Bruce
was also guest editor of a special edition of European Romantic Review that was devoted to essays on
Walter Scott. In addition, he is the coauthor (with
Jeff Wheeler) of the widely used literature anthology The Literary Experience, published by Wadsworth in 2008. Bruce and Jeff have just finished
work on the second edition of that textbook, now
scheduled to appear in 2015.
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9. Space is limited. Reserve your seat early for $25 by 5pm
December 31, 2013 to take advantage or our introductory price.
$40 at the door, space permitting.
Please register on our BruinWorks page: http://tinyurl.com/lryq8yx
Registration will close 5pm on February 15, 2014.
Complimentary refreshments and beverages provided.
Check in begins at 6:00pm. Panel discussion will begin at 7:00pm.
Send inquiries to Chet Patel, cpatel@alumni.ucla.edu
This event hosted &
sponsored by
The COFFEE CONNECTION offers a number of
exquisite spaces ideal for socialization, study,
collegial gatherings, and performing arts.
Fundraising Committee’s
Inaugural Meeting
On December 3rd the Westside Network hosted our first Fundraising Committee
meeting via conference call. The purpose of this meeting was to provide committee members with some background regarding Westside Network funds and to
begin organizing for our official fundraising campaign. And that’s a good thing
because our goal is to take the Westside Bruin Club Scholarship (http://giving.
ucla.edu/WestsideNetwork) to endowment level ($100,000). A big thank you to
all that participated and committed to this goal! If you’re interested in helping
the Fundraising Committee meet this goal email brandiebarrera@alumni.ucla.edu
for more information.
DECEMBER 2013 VOL, 1 ISSUE 5
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10. R2K Event at
Alta Loma Elementary
Recap
On November 9, the Westside
Network invaded Alta Loma
Elementary School to take part
in the Reading To Kids College
Spirit Day Reading Club!
Volunteers mix at El Cholo. Left to right: Christie Asselin,
Jesse Lin, Andy Sigal, Nevra Shapiro, and Elisa Frank.
Reading to Kids (“R2K”) is a grass roots, non-profit organization dedicated to
instilling a passion for literacy in children. They coordinate reading clubs on
the second Saturday of every month. Volunteers read aloud to the children and
create arts and crafts projects, in and around the downtown Los Angeles area.
Each child also takes home a book. Every year, R2K holds College Spirit Day to
encourage students to think about college.
In addition to reading, the Westside also gathered donations including blue and
gold pompoms, Bruin Bears (pictured above) and basketball posters. We were
lucky to receive these from UCLA departments including the Alumni Association, Government & Community Relations, and Athletics, respectively.
If you are interested in getting involved in the Community Outreach
Committee, please contact Christie Asselin: christiemasselin@alumni.ucla.edu
DECEMBER 2013 VOL, 1 ISSUE 5
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11. Bodega Wine Bar
Happy Hour Event Recap
On November 7, 2013, members of the Westside Network gathered for happy hour
at Bodega Wine Bar in Santa Monica. We had a wonderful turn-out and lots of fun.
We hope you will make it out to future happy hours and viewing parties. Dates
and details will be listed on BruinWorks and Facebook.
UCLA vs. Missouri
Basketball Watch Recap
On December 7, 2013, the Westside Network took over Busby’s East in Mid-City
Los Angeles for a fantastic viewing party. The venue was not quite ready for our
group so we pitched in by collecting food and beverage orders. Despite the loss on
the road we enjoyed watching the game and meeting new faces. Many thanks to our
server/bartender/waiter Vladimir for taking such great care of us on short notice.
We had a wonderful turn-out and lots of fun. We hope you will make it out to future
happy hours and viewing parties. Dates and details will be listed on BruinWorks and
Facebook.
DECEMBER 2013 VOL, 1 ISSUE 5
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12. Volunteer Opportunities
Join a Westside
Network Committee
Did you know that the Westside Network is always recruiting for our
committees? That’s right! It’s easy to
get more involved with us! If you’re
interested, here are the committees
that you could join today:
Business Networking - For more info email
ranjun@alumni.ucla.edu
Communications - For more info email
cpatel@alumni.ucla.edu
Community Service - For more info email
christiemasselin@alumni.ucla.edu
Events - For more info email
brandiebarrera@alumni.ucla.edu
Fundraising - For more info email
brandiebarrera@alumni.ucla.edu
Sports - For more info email
brandiebarrera@alumni.ucla.edu
Young Alumni - For more info emaii
mross@alumni.ucla.edu
Support the UCLA
Alumni Scholarship
Ralphs Community
Rewards
Here’s how you can help us raise
scholarship funds without spending a
single dime...
Ralphs will donate 1-4% of your eligible purchases made with your Ralphs
Rewards Card to the UCLA scholarship fund. Takes just a few moments
to sign up!
1. Go to http://www.ralphs.com
2. Sign in to your account.
a. If you don’t have an account it’s
only five easy steps to set one up.
Make sure you tie your Rewards Card
to your account.
3. Link your Rewards Card to the
Westside Network scholarship by
clicking “Edit” in the Community Rewards section.
a. Enter the number 90758 in the
Find Your Organization box and click
“Search”.
b. Select UCLA Foundation – Alumni
Scholarships by clicking on the circle
to the left of UCLA Foundation –
Alumni Scholarships and then click
“Save”.
ALL DONE! Your Ralphs Rewards
account is now connected to the
Westside Network’s scholarship until
the end of August next year! Please
don’t forget to go through these steps
again next September!
DECEMBER 2013 VOL, 1 ISSUE 5
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13. Calendar of Events
Dec. 2013 - Feb. 2014
Join the Los Angeles
Westside Network
Connect with us
Questions? Comments?
Dec. 19th | 4:00 - 9:00pm
Young Alumni Happy Hour Interested in getting more
involved? We look forward to
hearing from you!
Jan. 23rd | 6:30 - 9:00pm
An Evening with Super
Contact Co-Presidents:
Bowl Champion Brendon
Christie or Brandie
Ayanbadejo
Westside Network
Board of Directors
2013-2015
Co-Presidents
Christie Asselin &
Brandie Barrera
Vice President
Vacant
Secretary
Vacant
Treasurer
Feb. 19th | 6:00 - 9:00pm
Christie Asselin:
Writing & Storytelling Panel christiemasselin@alumni.ucla.edu Claudia Hart
Brandie Barrera:
brandiebarrera@alumni.ucla.edu
Membership Chair
Ranjun Chauhan
Young Alumni Chair
Matt Ross
We’re on BruinWorks
Facebook & LinkedIn
Check out our Alumni pages
click on the icons above to reach us online
Communications Chair
Chet Patel
Scholarship Chair
Vacant
Members at Large
Tory Haas
Brian Blake
Gloria Whitmoyer
Immediate
Past President
Julie Stewart
You are receiving this newsletter because you’ve been added to our mailing list. Just so you know, we don’t sell or share our list so your information is
safe with us. We just want to keep you in the loop about all of the great things we have going on. So if you don’t tell us otherwise, we’ll assume you’re
good with that and we’ll keep you on our list.
DECEMBER 2013 VOL, 1 ISSUE 5
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